helwigk



(No Model.) 4Sheets-Sheet1.

A. HELWIG. 1

DARNING MAGHINB. No. 431,583. Patented July 8, 1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

A. HELWIG.

DARNING'MAGHINE. No. 431,583. Patented July 8 1890.

4 Sheet's-'Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

A. HE LWIG.

DARNING MACHINE.

Patented Jul y 8, 1890.

( o Mod'e 4 Sheets-Sheet; 4 HELWI I DARNING MACHINE, N0

Patented Jul'y 841890;

- UNITED STATES] ARTHUR HELWVIG, OF KENTISII-TOWN, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

PATENT OFFicE.

DARNlNG-MACH|NE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,583, dated July 8, 1890. Application filed July 23, 1887. Serial No. 245,140- (No model.) Patented in England June 17, 1887, No. 8,765.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR HELWIG, a subi English Letters Patent No. 8,765, of June 17,

1887,) of which the following is a specification.

a darning-machine whereby holes in woven and knitted materials'can be completely mended'without the work having to be fin-- ished by hand. The darning is effected bya single thread and one needle. A' hook or looper is employed that automatically retains and secures the one end of each stitch to the material that is being mended. There are imparted to the darning-needle two motions viz., a reciprocating motion for producing individual stitches and a step-by-step or intermittent sidewise motion between the completion of each stitch and on the commencement of the next stitch. Means are provided for throwing out of gear the feeding mechanism that effects the sidewise motion of the needle, and also for returning the needle to its starting position when necessary. A pressore-clam p or work-holder is employed for holding the material to be darned.

structed and arranged that the sets of stitches forming the darn are caused to be interwoven with each other in a similar manner to that which obtains in hand-darning.

In the accompanying four sheets of draw ings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 2 a plan or top view, of a darning-machine according to this invention. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of certain parts of the machine. Fig. 4: is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing the reverse side to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line A B, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the machine.

In describing my invention when I speak of a stitch I mean a thread passed and extending from the extreme rearward position of the needles eye to its extreme forward position and back again, (through the material being mended.)

1 is a darning-needle secured to a needlebar 2 by a screw 3.

It is so con- 4. is a bracket formed with extensions 5, arranged to slide sidewise in slots or guideways 5 5 6 at the upper ends of the standards'7. The

'bracket 4 isform ed at its rear end with grooves or channels 8, in which the needle-bar 2 may reciprocate, and atits forward end with a table or support 9.

10 is a knob secured to the needle-bar 2. By pressing againstit with the hand motion in a forward direction may be imparted to The object of this invention is to construct the said bar, the return movement of which is eifected by a spiral spring 11.

12 12 are plates secured to the standards 7. They are made removable to enable the extensions 5 of the bracket 4 and the needlebar 2 to be inserted into their places.

' 13 is a bar pivoted at 14: to the bracket 4 and provided with an inclined part 13*. To the free end of this bar is pivoted a pawl 15, that normally engages with the teeth of a rack 16, fixed to the rear standard 7.

17 is a spring arranged to force the pawl 15 upon the rack 16.

18 is a spring that tends to force the free end of the bar 13 and the pawl 15 toward theneedle-bar 2 and into the position shown in Fig. 3. 8o

19 is a roller pivoted to the needle-bar 2. It is so arranged that when it returns With the said bar, under the action of the spring 11, from the position shown in Fig. 3- to that shown in Fig. 2 it acts against the inclined part 13*, which serves as an abutment therefor and forces the bracket 4 and attached parts sidewise through a distance equal to the space that is to be maintained between two adjacent stitches of the darning. o

20 is a lever pivoted at one end 21 to a bracket 22, secured to the base 23 of the machine. The lever'20 is connected at its other end to one extremity of another lever 24:,pivoted to the bracket 4 by a pivot or screw 25. 5

26 is a lever pivoted to the lever 20. It is formed with a slot 27, in which works the prolonged end of the joint-pin 28 of the two levers 20 and 24. The lever26 carries a rod or pin 29, arranged to take beneath the pawl 15. I00

30 is a bent rod secured to the bracket 4.

It serves as a stop to limit the turning movement of the lever 26..

The arrangement-of the levers 20, 24., and

lever 26 be pulled the pawl 15 will first be disengaged from the teethof the rack 16, and then the bracket4 and attached parts will be returned to that side of the machine at which the darning commences.

31 is a hook or looper pivoted at 32 to a lever 33. or support 9 by apin or pivot 34, to which is secured another lever35, arranged below the table or support 9 and provided with a pin 36.

37 is a looper-shaft supported in bearings 38, carried by the bracket 4. It has secured to it an arm 39, that engages with the pin 36 of the lever 35, and also an arm 40, that carries a finger 41, the end of which is normally maintained in the path of the roller 19. The finger 41 may be dispensed with if the lever be arranged in the path of the roller 19. The looper 31 is hinged or jointed at 42 to a lever 43. This lever 43 is connected at 45 to a plate 46, secured to the table or support 9 by a screw 46, as shown. The plate 46 may be formed with a slot- 46 whereby after the screw has been loosened the position of the plate may be adjusted by turning it in a hori-. zontal plane or by varying the distance between said screw and the center 45, or both, for the purpose of timing or regulating the motion of the lever 43 according to requirement. Usually, however, the plate 46 need not be made adjustable, the action of the looper being in such cases timed or regulated when the machine is made and thereafter remaining invariable.

47 is a spring, the free end of which rests on the looper and prevents it rising.

-The construction and arrangement of the looper mechanism, hereinbefore described, are such that when the roller 19 moves with the needle and needle-bar from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 such roller acts against the finger 41 (or the lever 40) and partly rotates the looper-shaft 37, which, through the mechanism described, causes the point of the looper to rotate from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3.

48 is a spring that returns the looper, loopershaft, and attached parts to the positions shown in Fig. 2, when the roller 19 returns.

49 is a screw that passes through the lever 40 and rests against the side of the bracket 4. It serves to permit of the position of the lever 40 and finger 41, relatively to the roller 19, being adjusted for regulating the movement of the looper 31.

The work-holder comprises two blocks or plates 50 and 51, whereof 50 is fixed to a standard 52, and 51 is formed with a rod or extension 53, arranged to slide in afixed head 54. The blocks or plates 50 and 51 are each formed with ribs or projections 55, so arranged that those of one block or plate fit into the spaces bet-ween those of the opposite block or plate, as shown in Fig. 4. Each rib or projection is formed with guides or slots 56 for the passage of the needle 1 and the darning-thread. With this arrangement, the stitches lying in one direction and constitut- The lever 33 is pivoted to the table ing one-half of the darn, will (after the material in which theyare secured has been turned to an angle with the position it occupied when the stitches were formed) be each held fast and be caused to assume a corrugated or wave-like form by'the ribs or projections 55, so that each stitch of the second set of stitches will be interwoven with those of the first set in a manner well understood.

57 51 are springs arranged to press the upper block or plate 51 upon the lower one 50 when darning.

58 is a lever pivoted to the rod orextension 53 and provided with an extension 59, that bears upon a plate 60, secured to the head 54. By turning the lever 58 from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 6 to the vertical position shown in Fig.1 the block or plate 51 will be raised against the action of the springs 57. v 61 is a cover-plate to protect the looper and attached parts and prevent them engaging with the material to be darned. This plate is not shown in Fig. 6.

62 is a second cover-plate above part of the bracket 4.

63 is a spindle for carrying a spool of darning-thread.

64 is a guide-eye for such thread, and 65 is a tension device, all of ordinary construction.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The article or material in which there is a hole to be mended is placed in the machine, so that the hole is situate between the plates 50 and 51 of the work-holder. Then the upper plate 51 is lowered. The needle 1 (threaded with darning-thread) is then moved forward from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. By the action of the roller 19 on the finger 41 the looper 31 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 just before the needle reaches the end of its stroke. As the needle commences to make a backward stroke the spring 48 returns the looper to its normal position, Fig. 2. The point of the looper during its movement enters a loop of the thread from the needle and retainsit until the needle has nearly concluded the subsequent or forward stroke. As the needle continues to move forward during this latter stroke it enters the loop of thread on the looper, which then moves as before to the position shown in Fig. 3, the said loop slipping oif the looper onto the needle. WVhen the needle afterward commences a further return-stroke, the looper acts as before and takes up a new loop of thread, which is engaged or locked with the loop or forward end of the preceding or first stitch in such manner that the latter is retained by the material and prevented from being drawn out. During the movement now under notice the roller 19 acts against the pawl 15, as hereinbefore described, and feeds the bracket 4, needle 1, and attached parts sidewise through the proper space into position for commencing another stitch. Such sidewise movement causes the thread to move from one part of the material to another, thus uniting the rear ends of the stitches to the material darned in the usual manner. On completion of a set of stitches in one direction the pawl 15 is thrown out of gear and the parts are returned to their normal positions in the manner hereinbefore described.

The work is then turned to a position at an and the second set of stitches is produced, the

same being interwoven with those of the first set, thus finishing the (larning or mending.

That I claim is 1. .A reciprocating and laterally-moving needle arranged to be intermittently moved in adirection at right angles to itself and caused to successively assume at each sidewisemovement a new position parallel to its first position, in combination wit-l1 the means forgiving it the said motions, consisting of the needlebar, a bracket for carrying said needle-bar, a bar provided with an inclined part pivoted to said bracket, a pawl hinged to said bar, a spring tending to force said bar toward said bracket, a fixed rack, and a roller pivoted to said needle-bar, substantially as described.

2. A reciprocating and laterally-moving needle arranged to be intermittently moved in a direction at right angles to itself and caused I to successively assume at each sidewise movement a new position parallel to its first position, in combination with the means for giving it the said motions, consisting of the needlebar, a bracket for carrying said needle-bar, a bar provided with an inclined part pivoted to said bracket, a pawl hinged to said bar, a spring tending to force said bar toward said bracket, a fixed rack, a roller pivoted to said needle-bar, and a lever device for disengaging said pawl from the teeth of the rack and effecting the return of the bracket and needle bar to the starting side, substantially as described.

3. A reciprocating and laterally moving needle arranged to be intermittently moved in a direction at rightangles to itself and caused to successively assume at each sidewise movement a new position parallel toits first position, in combination with the means for giving it the said motions, consisting of the needlebar, a bracket for carrying said needle-bar,a bar provided with an inclined part pivoted to said bracket, a pawl hinged to said bar, a spring tending to force said bar toward said bracket, a fixed rack, a roller pivoted to said needle-bar, alever device for disengaging said pawl from the teeth of the rack and efiecting the return of the bracket and needle-bar to the starting side, a looper to successively ret-ain each stitch and secure it to the material darned, means for actuating said looper, and means for effecting the lateral traverse of the looper in unison with the needle-bar, substantially as described.

4. A reciprocating and laterally-moving needle arranged to be intermittently moved in it the said motions, consisting of the needlebar, a bracket for carrying said needle-bar, a

bar provided with an inclined part pivoted to said bracket, a pawl hinged to said bar, a spring tending to force said bar toward said bracket, a fixed rack, a roller pivoted to said needle'bar, levers 20, 24, and 26 and rods 29 and 30, by which said levers are connected to said pawl, bar, and bracket, substantially as described. e

5. A reciprocating and laterally-moving needle arranged to be intermittently moved in a direction at right angles to itself and caused to successively assume at each'sidewise movement a new position parallel to its first position, in combination with the means for giving it the said motions, consisting of the needle-bar, a bracket for carrying said needle-bar, abar provided with an inclined part pivoted to said bracket, a pawl hinged to said bar, a spring tending to force said bar toward said bracket, a fixed rack, aroller pivoted to said needle-bar, levers 20, 24, and 26 and rods 29 and 30, by which said levers are connected to said pawl, bar, and bracket, and a looper to successively retain each stitch and secure it to the material darned, means for actuating said looper, and means for effecting the lateral traverse of the looper in unison with the needle-bar, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a reciprocating and laterally-moving needle and needle-bar, said needle being arranged to be intermittently moved in a direction at right angles to itself and caused to successively assume at each sidewise movement a new position parallel to its first position, a looper to retain one end of each stitch and secure it to the material darned, means for actuating said looper, means for moving the needle-bar and looper transversely of the machine, and a divided work-holder adapted to hold said material between its two parts while said material is being darned, and means for moving one part of said work-holder to and from the other part, substantially as herein described.

7. The combination of a reciprocating needle and needle-bar, means for reciprocating said needle across the hole to be darned or mended, a bracket wherein said needle-bar reciprocates, said bracket being arranged to be intermittently moved in a 'sidewise direction and thereby cause said needle to occupy after each sidewise movement a new position that is parallel to its first position, means for moving said bracket intermittently in a direction at right angles to the motion of said needle and to disengage and return it to its starting position, a looper to retain one end of each stitch and secure it to the material darned or mended, and means for actuating said looper and for effecting the lateral traverse of the looper in unison with the needlebar, substantially as herein described.

8. In a darning-machine, the combination of a needle 1 and needle-bar 2, means for imparting reciprocating motion thereto, a bracket 4 for carrying said needle, a bar 13, Withincline13* andpawl15,aspring1S,afixed rack 16 and a roller 19, a lever 20, a lever 24, hinged to the said bracket 4, and a lever 26, pivoted to said lever 20 and provided with a rod or pin 29, arranged to take beneath said pawl 15, a rod or stop 30, and a looper to retain and secure the stitch to the material darned or mended, substantially as described, for the purposes specified.

9. In a darning-machine, the combination of a needle and a needle -bar, means for imparting reciprocating motion to the same, a bracket in which said needle-bar reciprocates, said bracket having an intermittent or step-by-step sidewise movement, a looper 31, levers 33 and 35, pins 34 and 36, link 43,plate 46, looper-shaft 37, carried bysaid bracket, arm 39, and arm 40, with finger 41, roller 19, pivoted to said needle-bar, and spring 48, all substantially as hereinbefore described, for the purposes specified.

10. In a darning-machine, the combination of a needle and a needle-bar, means for imparting motion to the needle across the hole to be darned or mended, a bracket wherein said needle-bar reciprocates, means for giving said bracket an intermittent step -by step movement sidewise, a looper to retain one end of each stitch and secure it to the material darned or mended, and means for actuating the same, a work-holder comprising fixed block or plate 50, with slotted ribs 55, movable block or plate 51, with slotted ribs 55 and extension 53, springs or spring 57, and lever 58, all substantially as herein described, and for the purposes specified.

11. In a darning-machine, the combination, with a needle anda needle-bar and means for imparting reciprocating motion to the same, of a looper 31 and means for operating the same at the required times, comprising levers 33 and 35, with pins 34 and 36, link 43, and plate 46, looper-shaft 37, with arm 39, and arm 40, with finger 41, roller 19, pivoted to said needle-bar, and spring 48, substantially as herein described, for the purposes specified.

12. In a darning-machine, the combination of the needle and a needle-bar and means for imparting reciprocating motion thereto across the hole to be darned or mended, a looper to retain and seen re one end of each stitch to the material darned or mended, and means for actuating the same, and a work-holder comprisin g fixed block or plate 50, with slotted ribs 55, movable block or plate 51, with slotted ribs 55, and extension 53, springs 57, and lever 58, all substantially as herein described, for the purposes specified.

13. In a darning-machine, the combination, with a needle that forms stitches with a single thread, a needle bar, and means for imparting reciprocating motion to the same, of a bracket 4 and feed mechanism comprising bar 13, pivoted to said sliding bracket 4, and provided with an inclined part 13*, a pawl 15, pivoted to said bar, a spring 18, a fixed rack 16 and roller 19, pivoted to said needle-bar, throwing-out and returning gear comprising levers 20, 24, and 26, rod or pin 29, and stop 30, a looper 31 and means for operating same, comprising levers 33 and 35, With pin 34, proj ection 36, link 43, and plate 46, looper-shaft 37, with arm 39, and arm 40, with finger 41, operated by said roller 19, and spring'48, and a work-holder comprising a fixedbloek or plate 50, with slotted ribs 55, movable block or plate 51, with slotted ribs 55, and an extension 53, springs 57, and a'lever 58, all substantially as herein described, for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.-

V ARTHUR HELWIG.

Witnesses:

F. J. BROUGHAM, W. CROSS,

Both of 46 Lincolns Inn Fields, London. 

